Looking Forward Vs. Wishing Your Life Away

It's summer and you're thinking about Autumn. It's the New Year and you're thinking about Spring. It's breakfast and you're thinking about lunch. It's nighttime and you're thinking about morning. Sound familiar? Suuuuper sorry but you might just be in the.... wishing-your-life-away club. I know, it sucks. But don't worry, I'm in the club too! It's an ugly habit and one that you find yourself stumbling into while innocently looking forward. But trust me, there's a big difference between the two: looking forward and wishing your life away. And getting it right can be the difference between living in a state of constant excitement, or just plain ol' impatience. Take it from someone who learnt the hard way...

I've been practicing mindfulness in small doses lately and it's amazing what an impact it can have on your daily life. I'm always going to be someone who looks ahead to the future, because, well.. because it's exciting! However, when you stop living in the moment and appreciating the 'good', assuming the 'great' is always a few steps ahead of you, that's when it becomes a problem. It's true what they say, ''it's the little moments that make life big'' and I couldn't agree more! So, although we've got a ton of incredible, ridiculously happy and exciting moments ahead of us that give us all butterflies just thinking about, it's pretty comforting to know that hey, this moment is pretty special too.

As always, I'm hugely interested to hear your thoughts on the topic. It's something I've been thinking a lot about lately, having brought elements of mindfulness into my life this year. Do you think you're looking ahead, or just wishing your life away? Let me know in the comments below!

This post has stopped me dead in my tracks! I am definitely a part of the club, and now I feel guilty! I have practiced a bit of midfulness whilst on a course and I would like to try it again, and hopefully I can find more peace with where I am in life.

I was seriously just thinking about this the other day when I bought a mindfulness journal! It's so true and so crazy how much this kind of thinking can change your life. You start to see more opportunities when you think more positively and live in the moment more. It's like that saying about how people think they're life will be complete when they do this one thing or if they could afford just this one thing but after they get it, they find something else they "need" and it never ends. There's always more. Anyway, I loved reading this and the outfit is spot on as always!

I feel exactly the same way! I always go all year wishing for summer so I can go on vacation and when I finally am on vacation is the only thing I am thinking about getting home to my friends. I have tried meditation and that have helped me out a lot

I love this post, its so important. I keep doing this thing where I put myself in uncomfortable situations that are slightly out of my comfort league and then the whole time I adopt a mantra like "in an hour it will be over" like placing myself in that time zone.The events normally turn out alright anyway, meaning there's no point for the mantra anyway.

Also, gorgeous photos as always.Maybe I missed it, but what is this location you keep shooting in?

I am so guilty of this, especially adding being a perfectionist to the equation and it's just deadly hahaha! I'm always waiting for "ideal" moments or looking forward instead of right now. And you're right, it's such a terrible habit to break. Even looking back and realising how you didn't enjoy what you could yet repeating the same mistakes over and over. This is me. Always.

Such a valid point you made here, Gabrielle. I think it is important to live in the "now" and enjoy all the little things. Truthfully, this is a key to enjoying your life that little bit more. You look great by the way! xx

I used to look forward all the time, making thousands plans etc some years ago I have stopped to do it and it's easier- I try to live slower, catch the moments....Like always you look so chic stunning and elegant dear xxx

Such a classic outfit! And great points to consider too, mindfulness is a great thing to practice. Life goes by so fast, I really notice that with the boys. You have to enjoy every moment while it lasts as it passes by so quickly!

Hope you are having a good week so far! After being so busy last week, I'm enjoying a relatively quieter week and looking forward to the Easter long weekend.

I like this reminder that even the smallest moments counts, that couldn't be more true! I am guilty of wishing, or thinking, my life away too. I often find myself thinking that "if only" or "when that happens". Though I have to say that I've improved a lot in the past weeks and try to appreciate the present moment! Thank you for the reminder love, Xx

Yep, I'm definitely always wishing my life away. It's terrible and I wish I could change this, because my life is always about what's about to happen: a trip, a job interview, a big party... I really need to start living in the present!http://www.lambassadrice.com/

It's important to have dreams & wishes! It's something to look forward to, but one should definitely live in the present and live each day to its fullest. Love your coat Gabrielle.http://www.averysweetblog.com/

Living in the 'NOW' is definitely a struggle a lot of people can relate. I made my mind the beginning of this year to stop wishing my life away and live in the present. Kinda depressing to be wishing our lives away to be honest. Ha!!Love your coat mi lady.

Yep, I think every single one of us has been there. I think it depends on how boring and unfulfilled your life is in that moment and you're excited for what you have planned, plus, life can feel so long that you think what's a couple of hours or weeks wasted anyway? I started being more mindful a couple of years ago and it's helped hugely. Love your bag by the way!

Having kids told me to be present in the moment, even though they are the opposite of mindfulness in terms of quiet. But watching them enjoy the present without thinking of the future has helped me slow down a little and be more present.

This post is so spot on. We live in such a go go go world, and everyone is chasing their goals, that we forget to just soak up the simple moments. Getting into yoga helped me chill out and realize that reflecting on all of the small things I'm thankful for (our home, safety, health, kitty snuggles, etc.), makes me feel SO much more calm and happy overall. It's good to have big goals and dreams, but if we spend too much time looking forward, we miss out on everything amazing that's happening around us. Love this reminder!

You're so right! Wishing our life again is something we all want to avoid but it is funny how it can sneak on us in such an innocent way. We all know how important planning is and being organized does often involve the ability to think ahead. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, though. Focusing on future comes naturally to most of us, but sometimes we forget that it is super easy to fall into that trap of living for the tomorrow. As you said there is a small difference between being happy about/ daydreaming about some future event and wishing our life away. It is a thin line and I admit that I cross it myself. I get so excited about some project and sometimes it doesn't even come through- and life is right now!

You look absolutely gorgeous. I do love this classical black and white styling. The blue bag really caught my eye...such a nice pop of colour. The scenery is simply perfect as well.

This was such an interesting read! After reading this I have definitely realised quite often I am in the 'wishing your life away' club without even realising it. Being present and living in the moment is definitely an acquired skill, one I best develop and work on. Great post Gab. x

This is a great topic Gabrielle!! I'm also learning to appreciate the present moment, I used to live with a lot of expectations that weren't doing any good to me, because when the future didn't turn out exactly as I have pictured it, I was feeling dissapointed.

The truth is that, no matter how much we think and look forward to the future, we never know what is going to happen and that's part of the fun and the surprise, when you star living in the present ;)

This is definitely a thought provoking post Gabrielle! I used to be in that club as well but there's nothing like a serious illness to jolt one back into reality and learn to live in the present and appreciate each moment. I still plan ahead for things but I don't wish for much because I'm quite content in my present life.

I’m not a member of the wishing your life away club but I used to be. Now that I’m all about business I’m living in the moment, there’s no time to think about the future now. But that might change over the next few years. Mindfulness is the hot new thing right now, but it’s so much easier to try to be mindful than to actually be mindful. I love you coat Gabrielle, this is a great post :) Have a wonderful friday.